Best Ovens for Energy Efficient Cooking

The GE JB735 has a fan that circulates heat, making baked goods more evenly baked, and creating fresher, more flavorful roasted foods. It has a roast and bake setting, an air fry mode, and two adjustable oven racks.

It has a huge interior capacity, which is perfect for hosting family gatherings. It also has an elegant design and convenient extra features.

Energy efficiency

A kitchen oven is among the most frequently used appliances in a kitchen, so you want to ensure that it is energy efficient. There are a variety of options that can help you reduce your energy bills, but without any compromise in the quality of your food.

To determine the ideal oven for your needs, take into consideration how you use it and what features you would like. If you roast chicken or make cakes often an oven with a fan-assisted feature is a great choice. It will blow dry, hot air around the meat so that it cooks evenly.

Also look for an oven with self-cleaning functions. These models automatically clean off grease and grime after each use, meaning you don't need to spend the time cleaning your oven. They are usually more expensive than non-self-cleaning ovens, but they are an investment worth the cost in the event that you frequently use your oven.

Energy-efficient ovens typically have a lower power consumption and require less energy to heat up than conventional models. They might also be able to run on a 120-volt standard circuit or a 240-volt one, ovens depending on the model. You can also opt for an oven that utilizes both convection and radiative heating to achieve more balanced results while reducing energy.

Other energy-efficient features to consider include the auto-preheat feature which starts the oven when you're cooking to make it ready to use when you require it. There are ovens that offer smart technology that connects to your smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth that allows you to use apps for control and monitoring of your appliance.

Space

If you are limited in space, a small oven can fit in your kitchen with minimum fuss. These ovens are typically constructed with a flat fascia, and they can be neatly stacked with other appliances to make your kitchen appear more spacious. Certain models also come with an ultra-slim display and adjustable dial controls that can be retracted for easier cleaning, while others have the pyrolytic feature that's great for those who cook regularly.

You can also opt for a smart oven to maximize convenience. These models come with an application that you can use from your home to control your appliance. This can be particularly useful in times of stress and need dinner ready for when you get back from work or if you have children who might accidentally press the buttons on an older model.

Larger ovens have larger interior capacities and hob and oven are better suited for those who cook often or host guests. However, they'll require more countertop space than smaller models. You'll need to consider how much surface area you have available and whether it's enough for a bigger appliance.

This model from Beko offers a low-cost alternative that doesn't sacrifice functionality. It's minimalist in design yet it comes with six different functions that include a defrosting option that warms the oven quickly, as well as an AeroPerfect function which circulates hot air throughout the cavity for even cooking. It has an energy rating of A and makes use of recycled fishing nets as well as industrial thread waste to minimize its environmental impact.

Convenience

You want an oven that is easy to use and has many functions in an apartment kitchen. You should look for a user-friendly control interface, with buttons that are clearly marked and have a bright display. Also look for handles and racks that can be easily put in and removed. You need your oven to heat quickly and to be able adjust the temperature while cooking.

The tests conducted by CHOICE show that, while most ovens cook well, ovens their ease of use is what separates the good from the excellent. Fiona Mair, CHOICE's expert on kitchens recommends you look over the shelves, controls and the internal surfaces prior to purchasing.

There are models with intelligent features that can make cooking easier. Certain models can be controlled remotely via an app on your tablet or smartphone. Many of these ovens can also scan barcodes on food items and send recipes to the oven to cook this is helpful if you're short on time or are looking to try something new.

Other useful functions to look for in an oven are a grill function, pizza setting and slow-cook feature. These can all help you prepare tasty and healthy recipes from scratch in a brief amount of time. Some ovens come with a baking pan as well as a non-stick baking sheets, which make them extra practical to use.

For added convenience, consider an oven that has a built-in convection fan and multi-rack capabilities. The fan circulates warm air, which allows you to cook food more evenly and decreases the time it takes for the oven to warm up. Multi-rack features also allow you to achieve different results by placing dishes on different racks within the oven. This is useful in recipes that require several layers of dough or batter. You can also find some ovens that have self-cleaning options that uses high temperatures to burn off food that has crusted. These are typically more effective than the traditional self-cleaning techniques, which use water to wash away baked-on food. Self-cleaning ovens are a great way to cut down on time after you have prepared and baked your meals.

Safety

You may want to consider an oven that has additional features that will save you time and effort. Some of these features are safety-related while others help you cook faster and more conveniently.

Sabbath Mode, for example can help keep food warm for longer, Gas Hob so that you don't need to constantly heat and cool the oven when you're cooking for people who will be late for dinner. Most top-end models have a steam cleaning feature to make cleaning quick and easy.

A high-speed cooker is a great feature that allows you to reheat leftovers, or make an omelet or pasta. This feature uses quick, short bursts of heat to speedily bring food back up to temperature. Some models come with an insulated glass-ceramic surface that has sensors that warn you if the burners are still hot.

Other oven features that are included in a premium price tag include trivection ovens that combine convection, microwaves and thermal heating for faster and more even baking. Some ovens also have a function for air-frying, which allows you to get crispy food without having to invest in an additional fryer for your countertop.

Auto shut-off is another safety feature that can be added to ovens. This feature can prevent burns in the event that the oven is accidentally switched on while it is hot. Many electric ovens come with this feature, while gas ovens are usually bought with it separately.

You should also choose an oven and hob that is quiet when in use.

Ovens can be dangers to fire if they're not properly maintained, so you should wipe down the interior of your oven regularly using a damp cloth or sponge to keep it looking good and to avoid the build-up of food residue that has hardened. It is also important to ensure the grates of your oven are removable so you can clean them easily and periodically soak them in soapy hot water to wash off food particles stuck on.